Readers “stick” me with more Regis-Mullen memories

Here's a picture I took of the Regis student section at last month's state-championship game against Mullen. And yes, it was taken before the kickoff. Photo by John Moore, The Denver Post.

I had a blast looking back at my bad-boy days pulling pranks as part of the old-school Regis-Mullen rivalry in advance of the state championship football game, won by Mullen 37-6. If you missed the original column, here’s the link.

(I’m still convinced it was steroids. Did you see that Mullen junior quarterback? He dwarfed his coach, Dave Logan, a former all-pro NFL receiver! … Yes, I’m kidding.)

The column spurred a lot of fun reader reminiscences that are still posted at the end of that story (linked above). And as time has passed, more have come in, and I thought it would be a shame not to share them, too.

So … Enjoy! And thanks for writing.Noel Keane, Littleton: Thanks for a unique and wonderful article. It could only have been written by an ex-Mullen or Regis guy who was there when it was all-boys. My sons went to Mullen, but I coached at both Mullen and Regis. When Brother Bernard, Mullen’s icon, learned that I was coaching at Regis, he said, “Don’t ever try to send your grandchildren to Mullen while I’m here!” He meant it, too. Thanks again, it was a great piece … (for a Regis guy).

Joe Carabello, Mullen class of 1965: Hi John. Great job with your column! Thought you’d like to know that it was a topic of conversation (and unanimously appreciated) at the Mullen gatherings Saturday.

From Cathy Sauer, mother of three Regis Jesuit alums, and wife of one Regis Jesuit alum: Please know that Regis Jesuit High School is not co-ed. Regis Jesuit is “co-divisional.” The difference being that the boys are in their own building, taught by their own teachers and taught in an all boy environment. The girls, too, are in their own building, taught by their own teachers and taught in an all girls setting. Primarily, the only time they are together during the school year is for all-school Masses and some afterschool activities. It is a blessing that young women today now have the same opportunity as men to receive a Jesuit education. Also, Regis Jesuit did not “abandon” its North Denver roots 20 years ago. It was time for the school to separate from the college and have its own identity. There was no available land near the college, and Regis Jesuit was fortunate that 31 acres of land in Aurora was generously donated to them by a former student. After much deliberation and prayer, the school moved to the new location. However, one thing has not changed. There is still a huge rivalry between Regis Jesuit and Mullen, filled with school spirit on both sides.

Kris McGovern: Hi, John, I can’t tell you how much Tim and I enjoyed “Sticking it to Mullen, old-school style.” Tim bleeds Regis football– although he went there only three years, graduating from South where he was told he could play basketball– and my son, Matt, is a true Raider, graduating in ’06. I wish he could have graduated from UNC in as timely a fashion, but he’s on the five-year plan. My nephews and niece (yes, the girls did change everything) attended and two still attend — in fact, they are the Campbells of Campbell Campus, although none of their peers would ever guess. I doubt that anyone can understand the rivalry unless they’ve been part of it.

PS: Although you might not consider ” ‘Move.’ ‘Move me.’ ” the most eloquent of tete a tetes, it captures the heart of dramatic conflict in three words!

Geno Crusan, Regis class of 1977: First off, great piece! It brought back a ton of memories, specifically “The Basket Brawl of 77!” I was at ground zero of the event. A little history: I played football and baseball with your brother Mike for four years. Mike was a man amongst boys. When you played with him, you were confident and cocky. When you played against him, you hated his guts. Athletic, long hair, shades and white shoes, the dude had game. Mike and I suited up for varsity as sophomores in both sports and suffered through some tough times. Three head football coaches in four years and a lack of depth eventually lead us to NO WINS in our final season. Funny, because we were undefeated as sophs playing J.V. Mike was a radical, but he knew what was right. So, on to the game. The place was packed, and the game was ready to start with both teams at their benches when in walks “The Stud of Mullen.” On his arm is a babe by the name of Debbie K. Now understand that there always was an unwritten rule: Mullen gets St. Mary girls, and the Marycrest girls belong to us. Debbie was one of the finest of OUR girls. So here he comes, arm-in-arm, with OUR girl, across midcourt, no less, and sits right below us at floor level. I’m six rows up and start to express my displeasure at his total lack of respect … and I got his attention. He starts to walk up the stands to get to me and Mike, who is in the row below me. Mike stands up and the rest is exactly how you wrote it …. “Move Me” … CLASSIC! After order was restored and the game finished (I’m not even sure who won), we noticed the Big Mullen Stud sitting sullenly, with a nice shiner. Well-deserved. Thanks for the glance down memory lane. Mike would be proud!

Dick Hilker: Your story provided me with several giant guffaws. Whoever buried it on page 6C should be demoted to compiling the “deaths elsewhere” page for the next 12 months. I worked with your dad in the Denver Post sports department in the 1950s and spent at least one year of fall Sunday afternoons at Paroke League double-headers at the Regis stadium. Ralph covered the games, but I would up with a job keeping stats for the league. Your grandfather would slip me 5 bucks in cash, which was major money in those days. Thanks again for the yuks.

Sean Bendel, Regis class of 1978: Thanks for taking us all back to a very special time. I had the same reaction that Dave Ratterman had – laughing my arse off while recalling some great times. I was right next to Mike when the event you wrote about happened at the basketball game, and the ensuing melee. It would appear you struck a nerve based on some of the other comments. Truly a shame that the decision was made to move the school south. It will never be the same…

Mark Ziemba, Regis alum: Great stuff! I remember the great basketball fight of ’77. I had purposely sat on the “parent” side of the gym because I figured there would be a fight. In addition to seeing Mike in the middle of the fray, the other vivid image is of Jim (my older bro) diving down the bleachers into a wave of Mustangs. I felt a little bad about missing the fight, but not too much. I figured Jim had carried the banner (and the eventual punishment) for the Ziemba clan. Thanks for pointing out that the “real” Regis High closed its doors many years ago.

John Ruby, Regis class of 1979: Well done, Johnny. I live in California now after teaching and coaching for 25 years in the Seattle area. I am forwarding your article to my two sons who are at Jesuit universities, the University of San Francisco and Gonzaga after attending the Jesuit school in Tacoma, Bellarmine Prep. Needless to say their high school experience was nothing like ours.

You captured the essence of what we were able to experience at the Rock. I was with Dan when he hit that kid. I got in trouble, too, that night by Rod Card. We had been at Frank Serra’s for a pre-function and I took a beer into the bathroom at the fieldhouse. It fell out of my coat pocket and broke, Card came in and I was the only one in there. No alibi. He was ushering me out when my Dad was coming in. He said I could sit with my Dad … but not in the student section. My Dad, a Denver cop, was so disgusted with me he left in the third quarter. There were lots of Regis guys involved in the fight with your brother Dan, all of them football players. Only Dan and I got suspended. I was school president and lost that too. Langfield took over.

Haven’t been to the new campus much but from reading the tennis player’s comment online and hearing some stories, not many of the current students would have made it at our Regis. It’s a prep school now, not really Jesuit. So many people went to our school that would never get into the new one. Pablo Lopez, Kevin St. Peter, some of the guys that were fiber would not get in now. Thanks again man, that was stellar.

Andy Nemechek, Regis grad: Johnny, I for one, will never give up the fight. I love spending time on the campus or at games and seeing some of the same hilarious, obnoxious shenanigans we engaged in, perpetrated by truly rabid Regis students. This hasn’t changed just because of a new locale or a girls’ school (I wasn’t aware Regis was co-ed!) At the risk of sounding like the old man that I am, I feel incredibly blessed my daughters can have the same crazy, JUG-threatened experiences that we did, and love their alma mater as much as we do. I will never “…be Mullen” !!! Once a Raider, always a Raider. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.

Mike Crusan, Regis class of 1983: Thank you for the stroll down memory lane. The Regis experience is difficult to comprehend unless one lived it. Well done sir…

Kathy, Loveland: I thoroughly enjoyed your article. Reminded me of a rivalry that my high school had back in Illinois. I sure liked the honey idea. Too bad we never thought of it! I will be watching for the final score and hope that your team wins!!
Nicholas Pavlakovich, Regis Class of 1982: Johnny (“Sponge!”): Thank you for the great article this morning. It made me laugh and made me cry. What great memories. Thanks again.